Skopje, 17 February 2017 (MIA) - The 2017 Global Women Leaders Summit began Friday in Macedonia gathering over 300 eminent women from five continents and around 40 panelists that will share experiences on being a successful woman leader.

First Lady Maja Ivanova, who is the patron of the event, said that only dedication, commitment and persistence can lead to achievement of all plans and goals.

Experience once again showed me that the woman is most persistent and most successful leader on the way to improvement of our overall living. She is present both in the business, arts, culture, health care, diplomacy, journalism and administration. Woman is present everywhere but what makes her presence to be singled out is her approach, sensitivity, emotion, intuition, refinement, intuition, determination and initiative, Ivanova said.

The woman is a symbol of all family values and foundation of unity that generously shares her love, labor and invest herself in each role as mother, wife, friend, worker, professional and leader, Ivanova added.

She reminded that some of her activities are directed towards the children with special needs, especially children with autism, also persons with rare diseases and engagement for children and their health.

One of the treasured activities which are conducted under my auspices is the opening of the first ever Emergency Room at the Children's Clinic, she said, adding that renovation and equipping of the Intensive Care Unit at this clinic will soon be completed.

The Macedonian Chambers of Commerce President Daniela Arsovska said that the women at the labour market are active everywhere whereat the gap in gender equality is exceeded in the past 20 years.

In the region, Macedonia is rated favorably in terms of gender equality. There are no differences on how women are treated, but in terms how they fail to reach key positions in society, Arsovska said.

Minister of Information Society and Administration Marta Arsovska Tomovska considered that the representation of women in politics is not satisfactory and must be addressed in this field. What is the most important is the input that women give when taking decisions alongside men because the female perspective is quite different from men, she added.

President of the Association of Business Women of Macedonia Valentina Disoska said that there are not enough women at managerial positions and this should be addressed in the future.

Two-day forum is organised by the Macedonian Chambers of Commerce in cooperation with the Association of Business Women of Macedonia and World Business Organization Macedonia. sk/14:27

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